Peterborough Cathedral is one of the finest Norman cathedrals in England. Founded as a monastic community in 654 AD, it became one of the most significant medieval abbeys in the country, the burial place of two queens and the scene of Civil War upheavals.

Peterborough Cathedral’s history resonates nationally as well as locally. The origins of the Cathedral can be traced back to King Peada of the Middle Angles, son of King Penda of Mercia, who founded the first monastery on the site in 654 AD. The monastic settlement was almost entirely destroyed by the Vikings in 870 and rebuilt as a Benedictine Abbey between 960 and 970. The Abbey church then survived Hereward the Wake’s attack in 1069, and remained intact until an accidental fire destroyed it in 1116. It was rebuilt, largely in its present form, between 1118 and 1238, the Porch and the eastern end or ‘New Building’ being later additions. It became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Peterborough in 1541 and it is formally known as the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew, Peterborough.

As a building, it has suffered a somewhat troubled past, with significant damage during the Civil War in the mid-seventeenth century, but this is part of what gives our Cathedral such a rich and wonderful heritage, as well as its blend of diverse and interesting architecture, religious artefacts and stories.

And now it’s a reception hall. Sic transit gloria ecclesiae. An insurance company just had its shindig there the other night. Notice the lighting:

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60 Responses to Rent-A-Cathedral Disgrace

I have to confess that I have seen churches used for secular purposes before (usually for classical concerts or for school graduation ceremonies) and have never thought to be offended by it. And of course, the meeting houses of colonial New England doubled as the home of both the church and the secular town meeting.

I’d like to believe that at least one of the insurance executives was spiritually convicted by the sight of the large crucifix hanging in the middle. How can you look at the powerpoint (or video, or whatever they used for their presentation) without noticing Christ on the cross directly above it? I would think that anyone with a conscience would have all sorts of internal reactions.

It is why … the Protestant Reformation succeeded elsewhere in Europe, because Europe’s two great powers could not unite to oppose to do anything about any of it.

Thanks be to God.

The Old North Church in Boston of Paul-Revere’s-ride fame is undergoing renovations right now and at least part of the cost is being paid for by the National Parks Service (although not without controversy in some sectors since it is still a functioning church

As a First Amendment purist who firmly believes in keeping the church free from the profane hand of the civil magistrate, and also appreciates historic preservation, I would put it this way: The Old North Church is an historical artifact of considerable importance, not to mention important to the esthetics of the old part of town. The church could sell the valuable real estate to some developer who would tear it down and build a high-rise luxury apartment building, applying the money toward a handsome new structure in the suburbs, with a hefty endowment left over. Its expensive to maintain the old structure in its current form. So, pay to keep the historic old building, and let the church pay the cost of running a church inside it.

“If the only result of its survival was its use for profane purposes, then, honestly, yes.”

That seems spiteful. Here in Toronto, demographic change has led to any number of church congregations closing down shop. Their churches have often been transformed, into condos for instance. Why not keep things of beauty around in a new form?

Rod, I know you are aware of religious differences, so I’m surprised that your post seems not to recognize that protestants (the venue pictured Anglican, right?) do not have the sacred spaces that we have in the Catholic and Orthodox religions. Yes, the building pictured was once Catholic so Christ was once offered up on the altar there, and it is always a shame when you see a building that was once a church now used as something like a gym, but you seem to be offended by something more than that here. The building ceased being an actual church centuries ago. It’s been used as a space for shared prayer, which is great, but not the same as a church. I was in a Catholic church recently to hear a speech by a cardinal; the pastor in his introduction noted that Jesus had been moved from the tabernacle so that we could have a relaxed talk without fear of offending the Lord. Even with Jesus moved, one still needs to bow before the altar as that’s were Jesus is offered; it is still a sacred space and the pastor would not have allowed an insurance company shindig there.

@Rich, I visit a lot of Anglican churches and cathedrals, and they all emphasize the fact that they are houses of prayer, and have been sacred places for centuries. The Anglican clergy in charge of these churches certainly do not act as if the buildings are just nice large spaces that should be available for any old activity that an insurance company or other business might like to hold. At Wells Cathedral, for example, visitors are frequently asked to stop and pray with the clergy present. All the cathedrals have daily prayer services. That is why I was so shocked to see this kind of activity in Peterborough. This was not a classical concert — they had bars set up in the cathedral.

I lived and grew up there and have even served at the Altar as a Crucifer and Acolyte.

But in the last 20 years Peterborough has been transformed as a city into a smaller version of the capital. What was a Market town up until the 1970s with an amazing Cathedral is now a commuter City for people working in London and the slice of the South East in between.

I was there on Christmas Day for Morning Mass. Nothing will shock me about this Cathedral – the Dean (who was presiding) hardly elevated the host and chalice during the Eucharistic Prayers and in terms of a silent pause, it was not even there……

I am afraid that the dear old CofE has become far too liberal since the early 1990s. More damage has been done to its statutes of faith and standing within the communities it serves in that time than the effects of Henry VIII or Cromwell’s men in the aftermath of the Civil War.

I think that I shall never visit that Cathedral again. I am happy to say that there are many others which still retain a sense of spirituality.